Construction worker falls 10 feet from tree

A construction worker fell to the ground from an oak tree at a residential construction site on Wednesday, according to a St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office report.

Lonnie Eugene Rauch, 47, was trimming the limbs of what he said was a 10-feet tall oak tree in the back yard of a home on Coastal Highway in St. Augustine when he lost his footing and fell to the ground.

Rauch, who works for E & C Construction, was attempting to trim the branches of the tree that was interfering with construction on the back of the house, he said.

St. Johns County Sheriff’s deputies and St. Johns County Fire Rescue personnel arrived on scene around 11 a.m. and found Rauch standing up right. Rescue personnel treated a broken arm and transported Rauch to Flagler Hospital.

Rauch was sent home from the emergency room in a splint and plans to be fit for a cast on Friday, he said.

This was the firs time in Rauch’s 12-year construction career that he has been hurt on the job, he said.

“I’m usually the big bear,” Rauch said. “I’ve always thought I was invincible.”

Medical staff at Flagler Hospital told Rauch that he should be able to return to work by Aug. 25.